Saturday, April 1, 2017

Thirukkurungudi Dhivya Desam – History

Thirukkurungudi Dhivya Desam – History

The
temple has inscriptions from the 10th century during the Medieval
Chola period indicating
grants to the temple in the form of sheep. Another inscription from the 14th
century is attributed to Sundara Pandya II indicating gifts of 25 cows for the
perpetual lighting of ghee lamps in the temple. There are also inscriptions
from the same regime indicating gift of lands to the temple. The Nayak period
during the 15th century saw lot of additions to the temple complex in terms of
pillared halls.

The
inscriptions on the southern wall of the hall dated 1059 indicates excavation
of a channel with dams. There are similar inscriptions on the northern wall
indicating repairs made to the same dam. There are two unreadable inscriptions
on two pillars of the temple. There are three copper plate inscriptions in the
temple dated 1456, 1537 and 1592 indicating grants from Sabala Veera Chandra
Ramavarma Maharaja, Vittala Raya of Vijayanagar Empire and Vira Vasantha Venkatadeva Maharaja
respectively indicating several grants to the temple.

There
are several stone inscriptions found within the temple complex. A 10th Century
AD inscription refers to the gifting of 25 sheep while an early 14th Century AD
inscription on the Northern wall, dating back to the rule of Sundara Pandya II,
mentions about the gift of a land to Lord Nambi. Another inscription dating
back to the Pandya period indicates the gift of 25 cows for supply of ghee for
lighting the lamp.